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azalya01's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book was incredible! I never give books 5 stars, but I had to with this one. I thought the journal entry style was very well done, and I'm usually a stickler about those. The pacing was great: I never felt too rushed to accept some something or too to care. I wanted to know what would happen next at every page! The main character was well developed, and I definitely felt that I could empathize her, even if she makes some cruel and selfish choices at times. I wish I had read this book sooner!
As as the plot of the story, I think really interesting to ponder on what aspects about the “human condition", as Laverne mentioned, that we take for granted. Memory, community, hope, courage, honesty. I don't know what I would do in a world like that one, but I hope I would make the right choice in the end.
As as the plot of the story,
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Dementia, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
typedtruths's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Murder, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
bbelitz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder, and Pandemic/Epidemic
livreads2much's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
How would you survive if every memory you had could be erased with a single drop of rain 🌧️? This book is the diary of a woman living in a post apocalyptic world where that's just the case. This leaves you thinking about SO many unanswered questions, but the story was captivating. Honestly would've been a 5 star for me but there was just a touch too much swearing 🤬 for my personal taste.
"Id give anything to be hit by a car and be carried to the ER"
"Even 'i told you so' tastes bad after you've vomited a few times."
"Id give anything to be hit by a car and be carried to the ER"
"Even 'i told you so' tastes bad after you've vomited a few times."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Dementia, Death of parent, Murder, and War
Moderate: Cursing, Police brutality, Mass/school shootings, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Child death, Genocide, and Vomit
schnaucl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I enjoyed it, although the more I think about it the less reliable I find the narrator.
I can't imagine how terrifying it would be if any time you came into contact with water it cost you some of your memory. And how long would it take to figure out that's what happened, especially if you lived alone?
While I understand why people would want to try and leave, their plan to do so was never quite clear to me other than maybe they can't shoot all of us? Except it seemed like they all expected to make it past the military barricade but without explaining how. Or what they planned to do once they were past it. It's set in modern times and I would imagine it's hard to prove you are who you say you are without some kind of proof. I get that a lack of birth certificate for the child isn't the most pressing concern in that situation but eventually it'll come up.
I also wonder how many people deliberately stood outside in the rain and deliberately lost themselves, particularly if they thought they couldn't make it past the military blockade. Would that be better or worse than being shot? The death would certainly be prolonged and death by starvation isn't pretty but if you're not aware enough to know that's what's happening or to be aware of your hunger maybe that's kinder?
As to the ending, if time is of the essence, I'm not sure it makes sense that she let the child cry for her mother for three minutes. It certainly makes for a dramatic end though. I'm also wondering how old the kid was supposed to be when she was allowed to read the journal/diary.
Anyway, it's a really interesting concept.
I can't imagine how terrifying it would be if any time you came into contact with water it cost you some of your memory. And how long would it take to figure out that's what happened, especially if you lived alone?
I also wonder how many people deliberately stood outside in the rain and deliberately lost themselves, particularly if they thought they couldn't make it past the military blockade. Would that be better or worse than being shot? The death would certainly be prolonged and death by starvation isn't pretty but if you're not aware enough to know that's what's happening or to be aware of your hunger maybe that's kinder?
As to the ending, if time is of the essence, I'm not sure it makes sense that she let the child cry for her mother for three minutes. It certainly makes for a dramatic end though. I'm also wondering how old the kid was supposed to be when she was allowed to read the journal/diary.
Anyway, it's a really interesting concept.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, and Murder
anna_hepworth's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is very bleak horror, with minimal nasty and much slow creeping dread. The viewpoint is very tightly first person--as diary entries--until the end, when it moves to second, and that works incredibly well in ratcheting up the emotional resonance of the story.
It is a story about forgetting, about an apocalypse--or maybe a pandemic--where one can survive, but not thrive. About the slow erosion of memory and the loss of self that goes with that.
There is no logic to what is going on, no explanation. Laverne, who is writing the diary, doesn't know the why. They know some of the what is happening in the now, and some memory of the bad things that have happened, but there is no indication that this is all the bad, just all the bad that they have remembered.
It is a story about forgetting, about an apocalypse--or maybe a pandemic--where one can survive, but not thrive. About the slow erosion of memory and the loss of self that goes with that.
There is no logic to what is going on, no explanation. Laverne, who is writing the diary, doesn't know the why. They know some of the what is happening in the now, and some memory of the bad things that have happened, but there is no indication that this is all the bad, just all the bad that they have remembered.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Dementia, Medical trauma, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death